The Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club is seeking your assistance in preserving a vital part of our city’s history. Our historic clubhouse was forced to close last year to perform emergency repairs to our entire original Dade County Pine floor. Our prior plan was to do a moderate restoration project to the wood flooring (it was covered with linoleum in the 1970’s). Unfortunately, during a rental that year, our piano fell through the floor causing a deep gouge revealing we had critical decay that required our immediate attention and replacement of the entire floor. It took us several weeks to find a suitable contractor and even longer to find a bank to loan us the funds necessary to pay for the repairs. Fortunately we found Broward Bank of Commerce to assist us with our plight, however not only did we have to vacate our clubhouse for numerous months (loss in rental income and interest in membership), we incurred a new monthly loan payment and our annual building insurance fee increased thousands of dollars! Watch video here.

Founded in 1911, the Woman’s Club was established to engage women as volunteers to address civic, educational, cultural and humanitarian needs in our community (we formed three months before the City of Fort Lauderdale!) and beyond. In the early years we were instrumental in starting the volunteer fire department and public library system. Since inception, annually we award a college scholarship to a local high school senior. In recent years we planted a botanical garden in Stranahan Park and provided support to organizations such as Women in Distress, Jack & Jill Children’s Center, Broward Outreach Center, Seafarers House, South Florida Wildlife Care Center, Canine Companions, and Broward Health’s breast cancer patients through the Glam-A-THON event and Operation Smile. Future endeavors include the installation of a Children’s Reading Garden and drive to collect eyeglasses for the OneSight organization.

We feel our clubhouse is the oldest and most visible “member” in the community. Located in the heart of downtown on the corner of Broward Boulevard and Andrews Avenue it was designed by famed architect August Geiger and built in 1917 on land donated by Ivy Stranahan (Club President 1913-1916). Additionally to providing our members to gather for monthly meetings and fundraisers, our clubhouse supplies us with financial independence through rental income from individuals, businesses and civic organizations for weddings, parties, and meetings.Several business and community leaders have committed their support to our future, we ask you to join them in preserving the Woman’s Club to ensure our continued service “for the cause that needs assistance, the wrongs that need resistance, and the good that we may do” (club motto) in our community and beyond.

In advance, thank you for your consideration of our plea for your support. If you have any questions, please contact us. The Fort Lauderdale Woman’s Club is a [501(c)(3)] not for profit with Federal Tax ID number 59-0673290.